Thinking of attempting the Shark Valley Bike Trail in Florida’s Everglades? Biking next to hundreds of alligators… what a unique, exciting experience, right?!
Well, this Everglades bike trail was one adventure I couldn’t quite wrap my head around.
While visiting south Florida, our local relatives assured me that biking in the Everglades at Shark Valley (no, there are no sharks here, but plenty of alligators) is fun, safe and a great way to get up close and personal with the area’s wildlife. But the thought of biking with alligators only steps away made me nervous – especially considering the safety of my three children.
I scoured the Internet for Shark Valley bike trail safety reviews that would put my mind at ease. However, most of the reviews I found, didn’t. Instead I found an online video that cemented my fears. It showed a family biking in the Everglades on the Shark Valley path when an alligator crawled right in front of their child’s bike!
Nope. Never. No way.
What if one of my children fell off their bike while a gator was crossing? Or what if an alligator just snapped? Literally.
I know thousands of people ride the Shark Valley bike trail safely, but I’m from the Midwest – completely unfamiliar with alligators – and I couldn’t help worrying that we would become the next statistic.
I wanted to read an official website that said, “Yes, biking in the Everglades is completely safe. No worries. Just go.” Instead, the websites I read were vague (and legal, I suppose) saying that alligator encounters with humans are rare, but keep your distance to be safe, don’t feed the animals or provoke them… blah, blah, blah. I know all of that. I wanted someone to explain to me why a bicycle zooming by as the alligator is trying to snooze in the sun isn’t going to provoke him.
I kept researching.
Apparently the alligators around the Shark Valley bike trail have plenty of natural food there and are not fed by humans, so they don’t seek out humans or pets. And since they absorb their heat from the environment instead of creating their own, they often just lay in the sun for hours, not moving.
Well… fast forward a few weeks and quite a few assurances from our relatives that we should give the Shark Valley bike trail a try, I decided to put fear aside and make this our next adventure.
I’m glad I did, but there are some basic things you should know – in addition to safety – before visiting Shark Valley.
9 Things to Know Before Heading to the Shark Valley Bike Trail in the Everglades
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Visit Shark Valley during the winter dry season.
November through March is considered Florida’s dry season and is the best time to visit the Everglades. During these winter months the temperature is generally pleasant with average highs in the upper 70s and low humidity. The wildlife is abundant and visible. In contrast, the summer months in Florida bring excessive heat, high humidity and heavy rainfall. Mosquitos can be intolerable and the wildlife is much more scattered.
We visited Shark Valley in March and while the temperature hit 84 degrees that day (a little too hot to be biking in for my taste), it was still a nice reprieve from the seemingly never-ending Midwest winter which we had left behind.
(If you’re looking to make your next vacation a beach getaway, check out 10 Reasons To Make Amelia Island, Florida, Your Next Beach Getaway.)
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Get to Shark Valley early.
The Shark Valley entrance gate is open daily from 8:30-6pm, while the Visitor Center is open 9-5pm. The parking lot is fairly small, so it’s best to arrive early in the day before it fills up. There is parking on the street, but then you’ll have to walk a ways to get in. You pay to enter the park whether you park in the lot or on the street. Renting bikes in the park is first come, first served. Another reason to get there early.
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Costs can add up.
Be aware that the costs can add up when visiting Shark Valley. There is a $30 park entrance fee per vehicle, which is good for 7 days at any Everglades Park entrance. Then you must decide how you want to see the park. You can walk on the Shark Valley bike trail, rent bikes, or take the tram. The tram costs $27/adult, $21/senior and $14/children ages 3-12. The tour takes approximately 2 hours. Bicycles can be rented for $9/hour per person and is a great way to see the wildlife, as you’re able to stop as often as you want to get pictures.
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Bikes are old with pedal brakes.
The rental bikes are not new and modern. They are old and use pedal brakes. But they work perfectly fine on the nicely paved bike path, which runs beside a small stream teeming with wildlife.
(For more Florida destinations to visit, read our article, “Best Places to Visit in Florida For All Types of Travelers.”)
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The Shark Valley bike trail is not particularly scenic, but that’s okay.
Flat land, grass, and reeds make up most of what you’ll see as you tour Shark Valley, but that’s not why most people visit. It’s the wildlife that’s so impressive – a wide variety of birds, turtles, frogs … and the main attraction – alligators!
You’ll see big alligators and baby alligators. They’ll be basking in the sunny grass or floating in the stream next to the main trail. They may even crawl across the path you’re on. One alligator was camped out on the paved trail in front of us just off to one side. After stopping our bikes to see if the gator would move, we realized it wasn’t going anywhere. We had to bike right past it. We pedaled our bikes carefully giving the gator as much room as possible. The alligator never flinched. In total, we counted close to 90 alligators on our entire bike ride!
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First half of Shark Valley bike trail loop (going clockwise) is most impressive.
The tram and bicycles follow the same 15-mile looped path. At the halfway point there is an observation tower offering views overlooking the green vast expanse. Look straight down into the pond below for alligator sightings. One thing to note – the first half of the 15-mile trail (as you go clockwise) is the most impressive with the stream running alongside the path and lots of wildlife. The second half is not nearly as interesting. Your best bet is to turn back around at the observation tower and come back the way you came from. Keep in mind that the entire loop may be too much for kids to bike – especially being out in the hot sun and stopping every so often to take pictures. Even biking part of the way in and turning around to come back is worth it to see all of the alligators.
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The Shark Valley bike trail really is safe.
As long as you follow common sense and don’t approach the gators or try to feed them, Shark Valley is a safe place to visit. I know I was nervous about encountering alligators, but they really do mind their own business. I still can’t really understand it. I saw some people try to get a little close to gators in order to get a picture, and even then the animals didn’t budge, but seriously – don’t be those people. That’s just asking for trouble.
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Bring sunblock, a hat, and water.
The sun is hot. There is no shade. Enough said.
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The Shark Valley visitor center has restrooms, areas to sit, and a small store.
If part of your group doesn’t want to bike all the way to the observation tower and back, they can hang out at the Visitor Center, eat a snack, and wait for the rest of the group to return.
All in all, Shark Valley is a unique adventure and one we’re glad we experienced. If you are a Nervous Nellie like me and still need a little extra nudge, here it is: “Yes, the Shark Valley bike trail is safe. No worries. Just go.”
Have you ever been to Shark Valley? Any close encounters with alligators? Comment below. We’d love to hear from you.
Want another National Park adrenaline rush? Check out number 3 in our list of “7 BEST Ways to See Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”
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